Flush tank valve



N H WELLS FLUSH TANK VALVE Filed March 11, 1958 Fig.

Fill

Jan. 5, 1960 IN VEN TOR.

N H. Wells flush tank valve element.

element 26 from seat United States This invention relates to a flush tank and more particularly to the means for operating the flush tank valve that temporarily communicates the flush tank with the toilet bowl for the purpose of discharging water from the former to the latter.

An object of the invention is to provide a flush tank assembly which causes the flush tank valve to be operated with more certainty.

At the present time conventional flush tank valves do not seat properly because they become misaligned with their valve seats. The slightest cocking of the valve ele ment will result in water leaking into the toilet bowl. Not only is this expensive and a waste, but it is also annoying.

Although numerous means have been devised for the purpose of causing the valve element to seat properly, the present invention solves the problem by separating the function of the flush lever arm from that of guiding the Instead of a mechanical linkage the invention provides a flexible member, for example a chain, attached to the flush tank lever arm and to the valve element, and uses separate structure by which to guide the valve element. The travel of the valve element is constrained by structure which is wholly apart from the tank operating lever arm. In this way a much more satisfactory guiding of the valve element can be achieved.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary elevational view of a valve assembly and means to operate the valve element of the assembly in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a partially elevational and partially sectional view of a part of the mechanism in Figure 1.

In the accompanying drawing there is shown a conventional flush tank 19 that has the usual cover 12 thereon. The valve seat 14 at the upper extremity of fitting 16 is of conventional construction and operatively connects with the pipe 18 leading from the flush tank to the toilet bowl. Overflow tube 22 provided on the fitting 16 is also of conventional construction, as is the lever arm 24 whose function is to lift the valve 14 for causing a flushing cycle. Valve element 26 consists of a hollow rubber body (Figure 3) that has a semi-spheroidal bottom with an opening 28 in it, together with a laterally projecting flange 30 between the top and bottom of the ball. Threaded ferrule 32 is at the top of the ball or valve element 26 and receives the threaded end 34 of rod 36. Collar 38 is on rod 36 and this limits the penetration of the threaded end 34 in the threaded ferrule 32.

A cylinder 40 has a bore 42 within which a rod 36 is freely slidable. The upper end of cylinder 40 terminates in a threaded shank 44 which passes through the sides 46 and 48 of the forked guide 50 that is attached to the overflow pipe 22. Nut 52 is on the threaded shank 44 and has a conical guide 54 thereon which is located in the seat 56 formed by one of the openings in the sides of the guide 50. This centers the cylinder 40.

A flexible elongated member, for example, chain 60 is attached at one end to the flush ball 26 and attached at the other end to the lever arm 24. A cotter pin 62 typifies one of the numerous fasteners that can be used to attach the chain 60 to the lever arm 26. The opposite end of the chain can be attached to the flush tank ball by means of a fastener or by simply fitting the end link of the chain between collar 38 and the upper surface of the flush tank ball.

The operation of the invention is as follows: When the flush tank handle is operated, the lever arm 24 is lifted thereby lifting chain 6%. This pulls the flush tank ball 26 from its seat 14 and initiates the flush cycle. Instead of relying on the ordinary means for guiding the ball 26, rod 36 is constrained in its movement by the cylinder 40. Since the rod is rigidly attached to the ball 46, the ball must travel in the path of movement established by the longitudinal axis of the cylinder 40 and the rod 36.

After the water has passed time for the ball 26 to seat again, the ball is constrained in its travel and must fall correctly in alignment on seat 14 because the cylinder 40 and rod 36 are substantially inflexible and direct the travel of the valve element or ball 26. The chances of misalignment are thus material- 1y reduced.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

In a flush tank valve, the combination of an outlet fitting having a valve seat and a pipe extending upwardly from said fitting at one side of said seat, a forked guide secured to the upper end portion of said pipe and including spaced upper and lower arms provided with a pair of vertically aligned apertures coaxial with said valve seat, a vertical guide cylinder having an open lower end, a screw-threaded diametrically reduced shank provided at the upper end of said cylinder and extending through said apertures with the upper end of the cylinder abutting the lower arm of said guide, a nut provided on said shank and having a frusto-conical bottom portion seated in the aperture of the upper arm of said guide, a rod slidable in said cylinder and projecting downwardly through the open lower end of the latter, a valve ball secured to the lower end of said rod and engageable with said valve seat, an elongated flexible element connected at one end thereof to said ball for actuating the same, the top of said ball being provided with a screw-threaded bore having the lower end portion of said rod threaded therein, and a collar on the lower end portion of said rod, said flexible element comprising a chain having an end link thereof positioned on said rod and clamped by said collar against the top of said ball.

through pipe 18 and it is References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

